Dispensing device



Aug. 1.4, 1945. w. w. WEICI lSELBAUM DISPENSING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5, 1944 v 3 M4 75/? AZ IVE-7016515411;

Aug. 14, 1945. w. w. WEICHSELBAUM DISPENSING DEVICE F'il d July 5, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MHZ/E MM/cwsa 8140M,

. By W 1 Ammo Patented Aug. 14, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,382,191 I DISPENSING DEVICE. Walter W. Weichselbaum, Gemmell, Minn. Application July 5, 1944, Serial No. 543.516

3 Claims.

This invention relates to'a dispensing device and more particularly to a device for dispensing cylindrical objects such, for example, as canned goods.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of a dispenser for canned goods so arranged that the cans are selectively moved from a plurality of storage and dispensing shelves in such manner that all of the canned goods within the device are successively positioned to facilitate removal by the consumer to preclude the possibility of any one can or series of cans remaining on the shelves for a sufficient period of time to permit, deterioration of the contents thereof.

A further object is the provision of such a dispenser so dimensioned as to fit normally between shelves of customary height in a grocery store or the like.

A still further object is the provision of a dispenser so constructed and arranged that the contents thereof are always readily accessible to the consumer regardless of the number of cans or similar articles contained therein.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of an improved dispenser for canned goods or the like having no movable parts thus precluding the possibility of the device becoming inoperative through mechanical failure.

A more specific object is the provision of such a dispensing device so dimensioned as to accommodate the entire contents of a case of canned goods orthe like.

A more specific object is the provision of a dispensing device provided with a plurality of inclined shelves and having apertures so positioned that the contents of an' upper shelf may move to lower shelves and so dimensioned that the length of the lower shelves is unequal to a multiple of the diameter of the cans adapted for use with the device, whereby the rearmost can on the lowermost shelf is positioned between the rear wall of the device and the adjacent can, but ata height substantially higher than the other cans in the particular row so that the upwardly extending curved surface of the rearmost can serves as a guide, when the shelf with which it is associated is full, for successive cans to move into the next shelf above.

Other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein there is shown a preferred form of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of one form of device embodyingthis invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the de vice of Figure 1.

. Figure 3 is a sectional view taken'along the line 3-3 of Figure2 as viewed in the direction of the arrows, and I Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the lined-4 of Figure 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The dispensing device, generally indicated at I0, is comprised of a pair of side walls II and a rear wall I2, a shelf I3, inclined forwardly downward- 1y from rear wall I2, serving as a base therefor. Side walls I I extend downwardly below both ends of inclined shelf I3 as indicated at I I to provide side supports for the device. A second shelf I5'is secured between side walls I I in parallel relation to base shelf I3 but terminates at a point I6 spaced from rear wall I2 by a distance slightly in excess of the diameter of an individual can. The end of shelf I5 is tapered on its underside as at I I, whereby cans may pass, under conditions to be described hereinafter, readily downward to shelf I3. A third shelf I8 is also positioned between side walls II but is inclined downwardly toward rear wall I2 thereof in a direction opposite to the angle of inclination of shelves I3 and I5, and ter-' minates at a point ISspaced from rear wall I2 a distance substantially in excess of the diameter of a can adapted to be contained withinthe device. Shelf I8 is also beveled on the underside of its extremity as at 20 to facilitate the passage of cans falling through the space between end I9 and rear wall. I2 onto shelf I5.

Side walls I I are provided with aligned notches 25 adjacent but positioned above shelf I5, a stop member 26 being positioned between the side walls at the end of the shelf and extending upwardly to the bottoms of notches 25, thus providing a recessed aperture through which the can at the end of shelf I5 adjacent stop member 26 may be readily grasped for removal. Extending portions 21 are also provided adjacent shelf I3, comprising integral parts of side walls I I, of a height less than the diameter of the cans in the recepta-' cle, whereby the outermost can onshelf I3 is positioned outwardly with respect to the end'of shelf I5 whereby ready access maybe had thereto for removal from the dispensing device.

.A stop 28 of a height substantially. equal to the height of portions 21 is positioned adjacent the end of shelf I3 to prevent the cans from rolling out of the receptacle. Suitable securing means are provided on the interior of side II for the tions of the sides comprising the upper extrem ities of the wedges being of a space sufficiently far apart to permit ready passage of the cans between the sides. Preferably, protrusion 30 are so spaced that the cans or similar objects positioned between the side walls contact these side walls only at a point adjacent the shelves on which they are resting, thus avoiding the possi:

bility of a can'sticking in the device such as might be occasioned by the engagement of the top of its end walls with the side walls of the dispensing device and the resultant increased drag on the can. It may here be noted that the device is open at its top above shelf I8 and likewise, at the outerend thereof adjacent shelf. I8, i is similarly open to permit ready insertion of cans into the spaceso provided for filling the device.

In use, the device may be filled by placing a number ,of cans in the open top or into the open end adjacent the upper end of inclined shelf 18. These cans, generally indicated by the reference character 35, roll back to the open space between the extremity l9 and rear wall 42 and then fall downwardly through the space between extremroll toward the front of the device, the foremost can, a being seated in the space between stop 28 and the lower end of shelf 15 whereby easy access may be had thereto. As additional cans are placed on top shelf-l8 they continue to fall in the manner previously mentioneduntil shelf I3 is substantially full whereupon, due to the diameter being too great to permitthe sameto 1 pass downwardly to rest on the fioor of shelfvfl, and .its upper surface then serves to effectively close the space between the extremity I5 of shelf l5 and rear wall 12. As'successive/cans are :fed on the shelf l8 they continue to dro through the space between extremity l9 thereof and end .Walls 12 but, upon strikingtheconvexsurface of can 35b they are directed downwardly. onto shelf 15 until the foremost thereof, can 350, rests against stop 26. When shelf I5 is filled the last can 35d fits between the end can on :shelfliahd rear wall 12 leaving a space between its side and the extremity I 9 of shelf 18 insuflicient to permit the passage of a can therethro'ugh. -Additional cans may now be inserted into the device until the shelf i 8 is filled, whereupon the device is ready to be positionedfor useas a handy canned goods dispenser.

The natural tendency of the user is now to remove can 35a, as this is the most readily accessible, whereupon the remaining cans roll forwardly until the next'can abutsystop-J-B; Can 35b then drops into positionbeneath the extrem ity I! of shelf is. However, the abutment of can 3501 with end wal1. l2 ,and the end cans on each of shelves [5 and I8 serve as an'efiective lock to prevent'additional cansffromfalling to,

the lower shelf I 3. ldccordingl tthe remaining cans now,-.onshelf 13 may be removed until the et-li e repair b tween orde a Pefm ta di:

; ity ll of shelf and rear wall onto lower shelf l3. The incline of the shelf causes the cans to said second shelf.

tional cans to drop to shelf l3, can 350 must be removed from shelf I5. This operation releases can 35d and permits the same and following cans to fall until shelf I3 is again full. If, at any time, while there are cans still remaining on shelf l3 the outermost can on shelf I5 is removed shelf l3 will be automatically refilled. correspondingly, if a can is taken from shelf l5 while shelf I3 is full, can 3501 will fall on can 35b and be held in positionthereon by the weight of the following cans. Accordingly, as successive cans may be taken from shelf I5 this shelf will be refilled unless can 35a is removed from shelf [3 whereupon can 35d will drop into the position formerly occupied by can 351) and the lock reestablished. Cans may, of course, be removed from either shelf l3 or shelf ii at any time but by the arrangement above described, it will be apparent that the cans, for example, on shelf l5 must be moved periodically in order that further cans may drop 'to shelf 13. Again due to the disposition of shelf 48 and the height. of the side walls of the dispenser :thereabove the inner cans on shelf l8 may not be removed until cans aretaken from shelf I3 or shelf 13 andshelf 15, thus occasioning a constant turnover of the stock and precluding the possibility of any can or series of cans being passed over for a long period of time.

Obviously, the device may beima'de of any desired type of material or in any desired size to accommodate varying sizes of cans to facilitate the dispensing thereof. Likewise, additional cans may be positioned on shelf [8 at any time during the use of the deviceregardless of whether or not shelf It! or shelf 15 is empty or shelf I 3 is empty with at least one can removed from shelf l5. From the foregoingit will now be seen that there is herein provided a dispensing device achieving all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of. great practical utility and commercial importance,.which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

As many embodiments maybe made of this inventive concept, it is tob'e understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a dispensing device for cylindrical particles of predetermined diameter, in combination, a cabinet having side walls, a rear wall, a rearwardly inclined shelf forming a bottom secured to said side walls, means forming an aperture at the frontof the device adjacent the lowermost point of said shelf, a second shelf above and parallel to said first shelf terminating at a point spaced from said rear wall, a third shelf above said second shelf inclined at an angle opposite the angle of inclination of said 'first and second shelves and terminating at a point spaced from said rear Wall, whereby cylindrical articles placed on said third shelf will roll toward said rear wall, throughthe spaces between-the ends of said third and second shelves to fill said first shelf, and, when said first shelf is full, through the space between said third shelf and said rear wall to fill 2. In a dispensing device for cylindrical articles of predetermined diametenin combination, a cabinet having side walls, a rear Wall, a rearwardly inclined shelf forming a bottom secured to said side walls, means forming an apertureat the front of the deViceadJacent the lowermost point of said shelf, a secondshelf. above and parallel to said first shelf terminating at a point spaced from said rear wall, a third shelf above said second shelf inclined at an angle opposite the angle of inclination of said first and second shelves and terminating at a point spaced from said rear wall, whereby when cylindrical articles each of a diameter which is an unequal divisor of the length of the first and second shelves respectively are placed on said third shelf they will roll toward said rear wall, through the spaces between the ends of said third and second shelves and rear wall to fill said first shelf, and, when said first shelf is full, through the space between said third shelf and said rear wall to fill said second shelf, and whereby the last of said articles on the first shelf rests between the preceding article and said rear wall and extends upwardly into the space between the next shelf above and said rear wall to close said space and guide succeeding articles into said next shelf above.

3. In a dispensing device for cylindrical articles of predetermined diameter, in combination, a cabinethaving side walls, a; rear wall, a rearwardly inclined shelf forming a bottom secured to said side walls, means forming an aperture-at the front of the device adjacent the lowermost point of said shelf, a second shelf above and parallel to said first shelf terminating at a point spaced from said rear wall, a third shelf above said second shelf inclined at an angle opposite the angle of inclination of said first and second shelves and terminating at a point spaced from said rear wall, whereby cylindrical articles placed on said third shelf will roll toward said rear wall, through the spaces between the ends of said third and second shelves and rear wall to fill said first shelf, and, when said first shelf is full, through the space between said third shelf and said rear wall to fill said second shelf, the articles being each of a diameter which is an unequal divisor of the length of the second shelf so that the last article on the second shelf is supported between the adjacent forward article and the rear wall and projects up into the space behind the third shelf and precludes the refilling of said first shelf until at least one of said articles is removed from said second shelf, said side walls being provided with a plurality of aligned inwardly disposed wedge-shaped tapered portions whereby the spacing of the side walls from each other is relatively less adjacent the top surfaces of said shelves than at points spaced therefrom a distance equal to the diameter of said cylindrical articles.

WALTER W. WEICHSELBAUM. 

